trick yer mind...

Good to know someone got something accomplished yesterday.  Been trying to figure out why it is so difficult to get motivated on the container project.  I'm thinking that it is because the new living quarters is a luxury item and it just doesn't have the same urgency that all the rest of the construction has had.  Also - after almost 5 years...I'm kinda tired of building stuff.  As much as I have come to love little Ben, he is a distraction (although a welcome one).  Now that I have that settled in my mind, perhaps I can suck it up and jump on this project...perhaps. 

Been thinking about another run of TFL tshirts since I have gotten quite a few requests.  Raising Ben aint gonna be cheap and I gotta subsidize his upkeep.  Pumped out a couple of teeny kids versions today for some friends in Marfa.  Need to talk to my silk screen guy in Alpine to see what we can do.  86,96,58,0,B, .10

I got nuthin...

...so what did YOU do today?

RESOLVEWOUND

Business down south this morning...couple of storms just passed me by this afternoon.  Dick Cain reported just over an inch of rain at his place.  Learned an interesting longhorn fact from him today.  When the moon is bright, the cattle will get up around midnight and start traveling and grazing again.  Ben had a close up and personal with Gunga.  Got a package in the mail today...small jar of resolve wound www.resolvewound.com  from my facebook friend and fellow quadruped lover, Melanie Burton Wilfong...to have on hand just in case Ben gets a boo boo.  A can and greens and some red hot for dinner tonight.  80,95,67,0,B,0

the serpent and the women

Decided to take a morning shower for a change and what happens?...a 4' Trans Pecos Rat Snake slithered out from under my outdoor shower.  (Thanks to Marcos Paredes for the ID)  Wasn't too worried about it since it looked like a good snake and was probably grateful for the shampoo and conditioner.  Mid day visit from 18 Longhorns.  Tending Ben and doing a full scrub down in the hut took up most of the day.  Late afternoon visit from some future Field Lab Calendar girls...Nancy, Cynthia, and Linda.  78,101,73,T,B .12

romper stomper

77,100,72,0,B,0

Perrins

Passed these friends on the way to church this morning.  Brilliant sermon today about being vessels of Christ.  Nice visit this afternoon from my new friends Derrick Perrin, his wife Kendra, (another) little Ben, Grason, and great aunt Tish.  My little Ben checked in today at 96lbs and 30" to his withers.  87,96,67,0,B, .15  New addition to the Sunday blog post - scripture for the week (how to be self sustainable for eternity) .  From the New Living Translation of the Bible - Acts 2:40.  100 generations ago this is what Peter spoke... "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!"

here comes a horn...

Was able to scootch the fence on the table saw just enough to make the cuts.  Zipped through all this foam like butter.  Ben's horns are pokin' through now...he's 56 days old today.   82,102,72,0,B,0

zippy ripper

Started cutting more foam today...need to rig a fence to zip through quicker - the saw and guide "as is" only goes to 20".  Fast/precise cuts is what I need.  Ben doesn't seem to mind his first taste of generator noise.  Carl weighed in on the progress today - 5lbs.  92,102,74,0,B,0

home away from home

Just worked out a deal with the Antelope Lodge (photo of their old sign).  Visitors coming to TFL who need a place to stay in Alpine get the Field Lab Folks (10%) discount.  I stayed there for 2 weeks while figuring out a plan and ordering materials right before I came south to start building on my property.  The place has a lot more charm than a chain motel (and cheaper, too)...great staff as well.  91,102,75,0,B,0

teeth



Clare Package

Got started cutting the foam insulation for the east wall.  The challenge here is making the cuts precise to wedge them into place between the studs.  Gonna take me a couple of days to get the rhythm down.  The Field Lab legal team suggested another sign for liability purposes.  Found a care package in the mail today from my NY neighbor Clare who recently came out to visit...including a nice squirt gun to arm visitors against Carl - The Attack Rooster.  88,100,74,0,B,0

closure...

Dick Cain rode up today...he came across Benita's remains while driving some cattle - told me where to find her.  The skull and horns are in excellent condition thanks to mother nature.  The poor ol' girl died just a quarter mile east of TFL on the edge of some heavy mesquite...only about 20 ft. south of the trail I first followed when I went looking for her.  Marked the spot and brought the bones back home.  Was glad she was found - didn't feel sad till I watched the last video I shot of her.  It was an honor to have her trust.  She was always good with visitors - and she met a lot over her brief time at TFL.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0SyTzOXffs  90,99,64,0,B,0

melding...

Carl has been feeling neglected, so we spent

some quality time together today.  82,98,72,0,B,0

just a puddle...

High winds woke me up at 2AM...turned on the computer and checked the doppler radar.  Thunder, lightning and a half inch of rain.  Didn't get back to sleep till 4.  I really don't care for late night storms.  Not enough rain east or west of me to fill the swamp.  Yanked my stud starts out of the container, rebuilt the east wall, lined it with the radiant barrier and wedged it back in place.  The wet overnight provided a rather humid day.  84,100,67, .5",B,0

footprints

Still haven't gotten used to seeing my own foot prints from the Vibram Five Fingers shoes.  Flower find this afternoon while romping with Ben.  Pulled Bob's skull out of the wash and got most of the rest of the meat off of it.  93,103,69,0,B,0

weather run

4 days of rain chances coming up so I went to town.  Picked up another load of 2x6 for container studs. Also got a 50lb bag of nurse chow for Ben and his first feed tub.  He nibbles on the calf manna dry food in the morning now.  Personalized his new bowl when I got home.  89,108,72,0,T,0

back to the future

Got set up to start soaking ol' Bob's head to get the rest of the meat off the skull.  Bugs have pretty much cleaned out the inside.  I ordered my radiant barrier on Monday morning and it gets delivered FedEx to the middle of nowhere on Wednesday afternoon...amazing.  Gunga came by for a visit this afternoon.  This is Ben in two years.  94,106,70,0,B,0 

fourtanks

93,105,70,0,B, .12

Ben met Brewster

Sifted sand this morning for the east tank pad.  Ordered 1,500 sq ft of radiant barrier for the containers.  Had two visits today...Chris Johnson (a pilot friend of mine that is going to take me up in his plane in October) then Paul Szendrey.  Frequent visitor Paul brought his new rescue dog along for the ride.  Brewster and Ben hit it off....Carl - not so much.  94,102,74,0,B,0

learnin to graze

Ben is learning to graze on wheat grass....hope he doesn't prefer it to hay when he gets older.  He did good this week - gained 11 pounds and 4.5" of height to his withers.  Shot a video of our game that should probably stop soon...he's getting pretty strong.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdMwoLzPBEI  Ben is up to his max of milk replacer per day now (1/2 gallon 3 times a day) so he will have to start taking his free choice solid food if he is hungry between bottle feedings.  The kid has a big/hard head and strong neck muscles for only 6 weeks old.  96,107,73,0,B,0

Last Man's Club 2012

Ben's sudden arrival detered me from a vital mission this weekend.  Was hoping to make it to a 35th high school reunion in Tell City, Indiana.  Most of these guys I grew up with from 3rd grade through freshman year (then my family moved to North Carolina).  This group celebrates every year in August.  35 years and going strong. All 17 surviving members made it this year.  Hope to make it into the photo next year.  My old jr high (brief) girlfriend Kathy Winchell did her best to talk me into coming. Damn, she was hot back then ; ).  94,107,69,0,B,0

tip'n'roll

Task of the day:  move a water tank.  Finally got around to moving the 3,000 gallon tank that has been sitting by my little dam for years.  Just a bit of leveled sand and it will get tipped into place on the east end of the greenhouse.  Relocated a scorpion living underneath.  92,101,69,0,B, .10

re weld

Got the east door back in place.  Took awhile to get the hinges all lined up and clamped.  Nice storm floated past and dumped rain NW of TFL.  Ben - a face only a mother could love.  89,102,76,0,B, .14

stayin alive

Got started clamping the east door in place to weld then the wind picked up.  Had to abort the chore for the day.  Talked to Chuck this morning about how he insulated his container.  I forgot that he first lined the inside with radiant barrier - glad I didn't get too far with the studs.  Tended the greenhouse - hottest part of the summer is just about over and stuff is still growing.  Got an email a couple of weeks ago from another John Wells. 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/330746514223?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649  He offered to trade a widgy for a Benita tshirt.  The deal is done.  93,101,73,0,B,0